31 January 2007

Obviously. That's my album of the year, because I really want those chaps - actually, don't put chaps - those geezers to do well. They're friends of ours now, and I love Tom and I love Serge, but "Empire", "Shoot The Runner", "By My Side", "The Doberman" - all of it's f***ing colossal. I think they've really done it with this record. And I'm not having all this, "the first record was sketchy nonsense"business, either!

Jet - Shine On

At first I was abit like, 'It's not really my thing' with these guys. I thought they were abit too metal. I liked "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?", but then they came on tour with us and I realised all their songs were great. And everyone says that this new one just sounds like Oasis, but I think it's f***ing great.

They completed their huge world tour playing 27 gigs in Europe, Asia, South America and the USA. They also released their first ever compilation album, Stop The Clocks, in time for christmas. At the Q Awards they picked up the prize for Best Act In The World Today and this year they will be picking up the Outstanding Contribution To Music Award at the Brits.

30 January 2007

With Oasis about to receive their Outstanding Contribution to Music BRIT award, I thought over the next couple of weeks I would remind people about how they got where they are today - the Best Band In The World.

(1991–1993) Early Years And Breakthrough

Oasis evolved from an earlier band called The Rain, who took their name from a 1966 Beatles B-side. It was comprised of Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan (bass guitar), Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs (guitar), Tony McCarroll (drums) and Chris Hutton (vocals). When McGuigan invited school friend Liam Gallagher to join the group, Gallagher accepted, and quickly pushed for the band's name to be changed to Oasis. Although there have been many theories on where Liam got the name from, he got it from an Inspiral Carpets tour poster which was in his and Noel's bedroom. One of the venues on it was the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon.

Oasis first played live in August of 1991 at the Boardwalk club in Manchester. Noel Gallagher, who had heard of Liam's involvement when he phoned his mother whilst on tour in Germany as a roadie for the Inspiral Carpets, came to watch his younger brother play. A few months later he was invited to join the band. Although he had been critical of them, he agreed, with the provision that he would become the band's sole songwriter and leader, and that they would commit to an earnest pursuit of commercial success. Oasis under Noel Gallagher crafted their musical approach to rely on simplicity: with Arthurs and McGuigan restricted to playing barre chords and root bass notes, respectively, McCarroll playing basic rhythms, and the band's amplifiers turned up until the sound distorted, Oasis created a sound "so devoid of finesse and complexity that it came out sounding pretty much unstoppable."

After over a year of live shows, rehearsals and even taking the time out to record a proper demo (known as the Live Demonstration tape), the band's big break came in May 1993 when they were spotted by Creation Records co-owner Alan McGee. Oasis were invited to play a gig at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut club in Glasgow, Scotland, by a band called Sister Lovers, who shared their rehearsal rooms. Oasis, along with a group of friends, found the money to hire a van and make the six-hour journey to Glasgow.

When they arrived, they were refused entry to the club as they were not on that night's set list, which reportedly caused the band to bully their way in (although both the band and Alan McGee have given contradicting statements about how they actually managed to get into the club on that night). They were given the opening slot and impressed McGee, who was there to see 18 Wheeler, one of his own bands, that night. McGee was so impressed by what he saw he signed the band to Creation four days later.

Guitars played by Noel Gallagher, Kasabian and Franz Ferdinand will all feature at Europe's largest ever guitar exhibition, which kicks off in London later this week (February 2).

The event, called 'Harrods Rocks', takes place at the Harrods store in Knightsbridge from February 2 until March 3.

The collection includes many rare and extremely valuable guitars, both vintage and modern. Other famous names whose guitars are included in the collection include The Edge, Brian Jones, Keith Richards and Marc Bolan.

There will also be a collection of personally customised guitars from the likes of Neil Young, Bono, Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes, Graham Coxon and Jennifer Lopez.

The exhibition space includes an art exhibition featuring the work of Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood , who will also be staging his own art installation in one of Harrods' main windows.

29 January 2007

The Official BRIT Awards magazine 2007 is out today. It’s filled to the brim with exclusive features, and includes unique interviews with this year’s top acts. From Outstanding Contribution To Music recipients Oasis to the Comeback Kings Take That, we’ve got ‘em all — plus Corinne Bailey Rae, Lily Allen, Snow Patrol, Razorlight and more! There’s even a sneaky peek at what host Russell Brand’s planning for the big night…

Getting hold of a copy is easy. Just pop down to you local High Street music retailer, and 68 pages of behind-the-scenes BRITs news could be yours. Stockists include HMV, Woolworths, WH Smith and Virgin. Be quick… or they’ll be gone!

Yep, you can forget booking a table at the most expensive restaurant table in town. All you’ve gotta do is just settle down on the sofa — this is your invite to the biggest event of the music industry year!

The BRIT Awards 2007 will be broadcast on ITV1 on Wednesday February 14. The completely live show is hosted by man-of-the-moment Russell Brand, so you can expect some off-the-wall-moments as well as memorable performances by the biggest names in showbiz.

We’ve already arranged a truly unique set from Oasis, winners of our Outstanding Contribution To Music award. To see Liam, Noel, and loads more gob-smacking performers, just tune in! And if you can’t wait, keep logged on to brits.co.uk. We’re first for big BRITs exclusives!

27 January 2007

England’s glory, Oasis, the Beatles of the ‘90s and beyond, introduce their double-disc greatest hits album Stop the Clocks with Rock and Roll Star.

It’s a smart and fitting choice, for nobody embraced the benefits of success better in their heyday than these cocky Brits.

This song is the aural equivalent of the Oasis attitude: brash, confident, celebratory and enjoyably arrogant. Like most of Oasis’ popular cuts, it has a raw, melodic cut mated to the strutting riffs.

And of course it has Liam Gallagher’s classic call, part appeal and proclamation. This style has won Oasis legions of fans, and the spectacle of the Gallagher brothers’ escapades has been a welcome diversion from the whiny ‘90s and the angst-ridden ‘00s.

These lads from Manchester openly draw their inspiration from the front of rock immortality, The Beatles. They do resemble the Fab Four in a sonic sense, but have stamped their own raucous melodic edge on the style. They play like they believe in themselves and have faith in the good time liberation that their rock brings to the believer.

If one follows the British rock scene, there’s always been a dividing line between bands from London and its suburbs and the rest of the country (or island, for that matter.) For a period in the ‘80s and ‘90s Manchester had a certain zeitgeist and became the new Liverpool, and the focus of a cool Britannia feeling that hadn’t been seen since the bright times of swinging London in the ‘60s. Manchester spawned influential groups such as The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Inspiral Carpets, (whom Noel Gallagher roadied for) and then Oasis. Did I forget The Bee Gees? That was a different decade!

There are others, but I can’t remember ‘em.

There might be something in the water in that northern town. It’s entirely in keeping with Oasis’ proud regionalism that they released a double hits CD.

It occurred to me in listening a few times to both sides that many people won’t be familiar with some of these songs. Songs such as The Importance of Being Idle, which sounds like it might’ve been conceived in 1965, but recorded in 2005. That notion might well apply to Oasis in general. But no matter, these are very smartly written and inspired-sounding pieces of song and production.

When Wonderwall comes drifting in after The Importance... then you can hear the effect and drive of the group’s spirit, and begin to connect the dots. The mood of Wonderwall is so strong that it can’t really be ignored whether you like the song or not. This is the same for Oasis’ music overall.

Every song on Stop the Clocks is written, played and presented as if it’s a huge hit waiting to be discovered, even though some of the material sounds unfamiliar. The songs have a sense of the grand and the gritty that can cause shrugging of the shoulders and acceptance of Oasis’ lofty ambitions and dreams. They have believability and their songs reflect this. Anyone else probably would have been content with a single disc hit release, but with 18 songs of this caliber it doesn’t matter. They fill the spaces with big numbers and stately noises.

Cigarettes and Alcohol defines their piratical and well-meaning takeover of rock and roll from the navel-gazing and over-sensitive concerns of the grunge era.

Supersonic and Acquiesce similarly carry themselves in a head-held-high swagger that rolls along like doors opening off a drab street into a pub pulsing with energy.

In The Masterplan they use this bold stroke in a different fashion, utilizing sparkling guitar hooks and acoustic textures.

This is the other side of Oasis; the yearning far-reaching spirit that inhabits Don’t Look Back in Anger, which could be an English football chant realized in music.

This liberating sound has been suggested as the real British national anthem, and contains the essence of what one writer calls “English Soul.” That could be a realistic summing up of Oasis’ sound and appeal.

26 January 2007

They have been friendly for years, but never however gave an interview together. In our Britpop summit meeting, Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher talk about good music, bad fashion and the light that never goes out...

Though one is from Leicester and the other from Manchester the two bands are, according to Kasabian at least, mirror images.

It all comes to light when Kasabian guitarist Serge Pizzorno reveals the day he knew his band was going to make it - "The moment we started," he says.

"There's been a sequence of events that just had to happen. I don't believe in God, but something's happening, some sort of fate, some road that's already been laid. It was never gonna be any other way."

One of these fated things, apparently, was winning the praise and friendship of their heroes in Oasis.

"Seriously, that was in our path, it was just gonna happen," bassist Chris Edwards says.

"We always knew one day they'd get to hear our music and something'd happen - we'd get to meet 'em and even to know 'em.

"So for them to invite us out on tour and to get on with them as well as we have, and to be such similar bands without even knowing it..."

"It's eerie," Pizzorno agrees. "Especially with Oasis."

Just like Oasis's Noel Gallagher, Pizzorno is guitarist and songwriter. What else do they have in common?

"Erm, same taste in shoes and clothes," Pizzorno says.

The lanky Pizzorno surely has a shoe size or two on the pint-sized Gallagher, however.

"He's an 8, I'm an 11."

As for the rest, Edwards says Kasabian singer Tom Meighan "is exactly the same as Liam. Even when they'd never met it was 'F---ing hell, how much are these alike?' You know, eccentric lunatic. Tom's got more confidence than you can put in a man's body!"

Drummer Ian Matthews, Pizzorno suggests, is "like Moon and Starkey".

Second guitarist Jay Mehler is a dead musical ringer for Oasis's Gem - "he'll have a go at everything and he can play it," Edwards says.

"And then Andy Bell's like me, he just sits back and plays his stuff, just chilled out."

This formula, they declare, has worked for all the "rock 'n' roll superpowers" - everyone from Oasis to the Stones to the Who.

The problem is when one band has two of the same personality types. One Liam and one Noel? Fine. Two Liams? Disaster.

"You know straight away when there's two of the same person, you're f---ed," Pizzorno says.

Kasabian, who formed in 1997, had just such a problem between albums one and two.

Guitarist Chris Karloff, a founding member who played on their 2004 self-titled debut, was given his marching orders just as they began work on their follow-up, Empire.

Pizzorno describes the departure as a case of "when you don't want to go out with your bird any more, you treat her like s---, because you've got neither the balls to get out yourself. That's exactly what it was, in honesty."

Though their debut had a handful of strong moments (LSF, Club Foot, Processed Beats and Reason is Treason) and sold well in the UK, it didn't necessarily suggest a band with a long life span.

Pizzorno knew the perception was out there, but also knew that Empire (released late last year) would blow the lid off it all.

"We knew what we had in our hands and we were like right, 'OK, see what you make of this then, you wankers'.

"It's always been a people's band, as in the media didn't help. They wrote about it, but they didn't tell it how it really was.

"They just thought we were mouthy idiots, they didn't know what we were doin'."

24 January 2007

After 10-plus years of rocking, rolling, snorting, drinking, yelling and fighting (not to mention writing some of the best rock songs ever recorded), Oasis are releasing their much-awaited best-of collection, Stop the Clocks. We caught up with the (slightly) less potty-mouthed songwriting half of the Gallagher brothers and listened to him talk a whole lot of shit. Our apologies to Green Day.

STUFF: When was the moment you realized you could play in a rock ’n’ roll band for a living?

NOEL: I can’t remember that far back, really, but now that I think about it, it would be around the time I wrote “Live Forever.” That’s a fuckin’ good tune, man.

You wrote that in your bedroom around ’91, right? You hadn’t made it yet at that point.

No, we didn’t even have a record deal. I’d written most of Definitely Maybe before I wrote “Live Forever,” but once I wrote that, I said to myself, “This is undeniably fucking great.”

Who’s the first person you played it for?

A very uninterested girlfriend, I think. But then I took it to the boys during a rehearsal, and we all knew that was it.

All these years later, what do you think the appeal of Oasis is?

I’d probably say it’s my seemingly never-ending good looks and Liam’s charming behavior. I don’t know, to be honest. I’d like to think it’s the music, but I don’t know.

We read that you didn’t want Stop the Clocks to come out while Oasis were still together. Does it feel weird to have fans look back at your work even though you’re still making music and performing?

Every time we put a new record out, people are always looking at us retrospectively. There’s always a new generation of fans and journalists who want to give their take on the massive phenomenon that is Oasis.

You’ve said that you wanted to handpick the songs that went on it because if the record company did it, the album would be “shit.” Did you get any heat from your label for choosing B-sides and songs that weren’t commercial singles for Stop the Clocks?

I guess. I mean, at the end of the day, I did it my way, but there were a few mutterings behind the scenes and all that. But really, fuck those people. What do they know? They didn’t write “Live Forever”—or even “Acquiesce,” for that matter.

Usually when a band puts out a best-of album or a live album, it’s to fulfill their contract to their label. Was this released to make good on your deal?

You’re a sharp one. We fulfilled our contract with Epic when we did Don’t Believe the Truth, but they were going to do this “best of” anyway. So it was really a choice between getting involved and making it great or standing over on the sidelines and waiting to slag it off when it was released.

Do you have any regrets about your records? We know Be Here Now didn’t quite turn out the way you wanted it to.

Well, most of the songs are too long and some of the lyrics aren’t too well thought out. And of course some of the tunes on Standing on the Shoulder of Giants are a bit shit. But they’re all perfect expressions of their time, and you can’t change them, so why worry about it?

What would you say was the high point of Oasis’ most decadent behavior? There’s that famous story about the show in L.A. in ’94 when some of the band allegedly took a shitload of crystal meth and you stormed out. Was that sort of stuff common back then?

Well, first off, the reason why I left is because crystal meth is like cheap speed, and I was into far more exotic drugs at that point. I was quite upset my band members had become punks when I was busy reaching for the stars. But in regard to the drug thing, it was omnipresent.

Was there ever a point when you said to yourself, “This shit is wild”?

Well, when you look at yourself in the mirror at 7 A.M., wearing big fucking round sunglasses and a black fur coat with a fucking 50-pound note up your nose, and you say, “Yeah, man, this is what it’s all about,” you might be a bit fucked.

Can you give me a ballpark figure on how much money Oasis spent on drugs in the ’90s?

[Long pause] I couldn’t even calculate it.

A million pounds?

Whoa, man. I mean, a million pounds is a lot of fuckin’ money. But it’s got to be at least half a million. Wait, what the fuck am I saying—it’s got to be more than that. Just print 10 million. Put it next to my picture: “I blew $10 million on drugs!”

Are there any bands around today that you think need to be put in their place?

Green Day. What the fuck’s that all about? They consider themselves to be—and I quote—“a kick-ass rock ’n’ roll band.” They could not be less kick-ass if they tried.

What about them do you find so reprehensible?

They’re obviously a corporate punk band—and they ripped off one of my songs!

Which one?

[Sings] “I walk these lonely streets…” Fucking “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”! If you listen, you’ll find it is exactly the same arrangement as “Wonderwall.”

We don’t know if you’re one to point fingers about knicking riffs from other groups.

Yeah, but not whole songs! They should have the decency to wait until I am dead. I at least pay the people I steal from that courtesy.

Rock hardman Liam Gallagher is a huge fan of Countdown and would love to be a contestant. The Oasis frontman confessed to host Carol Vorderman that he is a massive fan of the Channel Four show. Carol told Reveal magazine: "Liam told me he gets really excited when there are loads of consonants." She added, bizarrely, that Liam loves it when the letter C and D come up, adding: "CD is his special word."

21 January 2007

"Born To Rock: The Life and Times of the Electric Guitar", Europe's biggest guitar exhibition, will open at Harrods on 2nd February to 3rd March 2007.

The exhibition will feature over 150 guitars, including “The Frying Pan” – the world’s fist electric guitar. The idea for the event came from the “RockCouture” collection, a set of 50 stunning and unique electric guitars, which have been personally customised by some of the biggest names in fashion, music and design. This includes the likes of Bono, Patrick Cox, David LaChappele, Jennifer Lopez and Theo Fennel and many more.

The Born to Rock will also showcase many rare and extremely valuable guitars, both vintage and modern. Visitors will also get the chance to get up close to the guitars, played by artists such as Brian Jones, The Velvet Underground and Noel Gallagher.

After the exhibition the RockCouture guitars will be auctioned off to charities.

For further information on how you can bid for the RockCouture guitars visit www.borntorock.tv

20 January 2007

Noel Gallagher says his band Won't make a special effort for their top spot at the Brit Awards.

The ultra-cool songwriting legend says Oasis will just rock up and play, despite organisers’ best efforts to make things glitzy.

Noel said: “We won’t do anything special because that’s not the way we are. But I guess some clown will have dressed up the stage with a fancy backdrop and we’ll get the hump.”

The band wanted a full set but are only being allowed 15 minutes. Noel added: “We might do three or possibly just two songs. I don’t mind because our songs are quite long. If we were the Arctic Monkeys we’d be able to do about six.”

Oasis will get the Outstanding Contribution Award and close the show on February 14 in London’s Earls Court.

It’s sure to be a superb end to the Brits. And the mad fer it Mancunian has promised to stir things up.

He added: “I love the big awards ceremonies because there’s always someone there you can antagonise.” Jarvis Cocker, who stormed the stage during Michael Jackson's Earth Song in 2000, has been nominated for Best Male.

He said: “Last time, I left there in a police van so I hope not to leave in the same circumstances.”So with Noel, Jarvis and hell-raiser Amy Winehouse in the same room we should be in for some explosive entertainment.

Oasis hardman Noel Gallagher has become addicted to a wildlife programme — about Meerkats.

The usually wild rocker revealed he was mad about the furry stars of a TV nature series.

When asked if he was still a hellraiser, Noel replied: “Mostly I sit at home with my daughter Anais watching Meerkat Manor.”

The series, narrated by Love Actually star Bill Nighy, follows a group of the sociable animals living in southern Africa’s Kalahari Desert.

The “Whiskers” family is made up of Flower, Shakespeare, Daisy and Carlos.

And millions across the world have been tuning in as cameras capture every family squabble and “love affair”.

Wild side ... Noel is huge fan

The 12in-tall critters live in burrows and survive on a diet of worms, insects and lizards. They are the subject of a ten-year study by Cambridge University.

In the US, chat show queen Oprah Winfrey has admitted she is a big fan. And Hollywood legend Whoopi Goldberg even called producers and asked if a meerkat could be named after her.

Noel, 39 — famed with Brother Liam for saying “mad fer it” — has been watching the show on DVDs and the Discovery Channel.

He has been glued to the screen at his London home with little Anais, who celebrates her sixth birthday next week. But from tomorrow night the rest of Britain can enjoy the series when it is launched on BBC2 at 6.10pm.

19 January 2007

"Noel Gallagher came and listened to us when we were mastering the EP at the studios," beams Kyle in his munching-gravel voice. "He thought it was cool."

Quite an accolade for the group that originally converged at their local Catholic school as a covers band, blitzing through a repertoire that included "The Beatles, The Stone Roses and Oasis".

None of the members are older than 20 (the average age is 18), and look so alarmingly young, you'd imagine their favourite chat-up line ends in "up a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G".

Up and down the land, they're connecting with teenagers, with tunes that razzle with humour and charm. Wherever they go - even when they nip to the urinal for a discreet pee - they find themselves assailed by the signature terrace-chant of "The View! The View! The View are on fire!"

Their popularity, considers Kyle, is partly a reaction to art-pop and indie-karaoke bands that were prevalent at the time such as Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs.

"We were very influenced by bands like Oasis and the way The Libertines went about things on stage, treating it like it was like nothing else, rather than standing there and pouting. I think that's what The Libertines changed: for the audience to be at one with the stage."

"We're a working class band - we lead the same lives the audience leads. People can look at us and know that could be them up there."

On February 26 , Sound & Vision will bring together some of the biggest names in popular music and photography for its Sound & Vision 2007 event - a unique music and photography exhibition and auction to be held at Abbey Road Studios which Q is delighted to be supporting.

Among the many highlights of the exhibition – which has legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin as its patron – are Q man Jason Joyce’s striking images of Noel and Liam Gallagher, Jude Edginton’s exceptional work with Paul Weller and Basement Jaxx, and one of only two prints of the original artwork to the Scissor Sister’s debut album, courtesy of Studio Spooky.

All money raised on the night will help fund Cancer Research UK’s pioneering research. Tickets to the event are strictly limited and can be applied for by calling Cancer Research UK on: 0870 242 7095 or going to www.soundandvision2007.co.uk

Williams' album Rudebox is wildly expected to be shunned at today's nominations for the British music event - making it the first time in ten years his album hasn't received a BRIT nomination.

And Oasis rocker Gallagher hasn't wasted any time in sticking the knife in - insisting Williams probably hates the album as well. He says, "As he tends to refer himself in the third person, Robbie Williams is obviously a character that he invented and the music he makes is f**king dog s**t.

And I think even Robbie would probably admit that. The outburst from the Wonderwall rocker is the latest in a series of feuds between the pair - which all started after Gallagher called the Let Me Entertain You singer the "fat dancer from TAKE THAT." The Brit Awards takes place next month (14FEB)

15 January 2007

Musical legends including ex-Smiths' bassist Andy Rourke joined forces with 150 buskers from across Manchester this weekend in a bid to raise money for charity.

The world record busking attempt, organised by Versus Cancer, attracted hundreds of onlookers outside the Urbis in Cathedral Gardens.

Andy was joined by Damon Gough - better known as Badly Drawn Boy - and ex-Oasis guitarist Bonehead. The event saw performers banging drums, strumming guitars and singing along to the Oasis hit Wonderwall. The gig was also designed to highlighting the Versus Cancer concert at the M.E.N. Arena in March.

Last year's event, which attracted artists including New Order, Johnny Marr, Shaun Ryder, The Doves and Elbow, was organised after Andy's manager's sister and dad were diagnosed with cancer.

Andy said: "Versus Cancer came about because my manager found out his sister and dad had cancer.

"I wanted to do something to help and as a musician the only thing I could think of doing was putting on a concert. But I never thought it would grow to this size.

"The great thing about Manchester is all the musicians get on really well so everyone gave up their time to get involved.

"We are all about setting a new world record. There is no record at the moment so we are starting something new."

Travelled

Busker Paul McNulty travelled from Chorlton with wife Claire and children Clementine, five and Charlie, two, to take part.

He said: "I read about this event and thought it was a great way to show my children the positive effects music can have.

"I'm a computer programmer but I used to busk a lot -though I hadn't for a while."

Promoters say the busk is only a taster of the main event, which comes to the M.E.N. Arena on March 30.

The concert has already attracted bands including Ian Brown and Echo And The Bunnymen. Gig organiser and Andy's manager Nova said: "A lot of people have put a lot of hard work into the show. It has grown from an idea we had in the pub into a massive thing which is raising money to fund research into cancer and attracting some of the biggest names in music."

The Banner must contain pictures of Oasis from 1994 onwards. That can include group pictures, live pictures, CD artwork. Liam, Gem, Noel, Alan etc etc.

Must say 'stopcryingyourheartout.com'

Dimensions - Banner Size is 644 x 177 pixelsGraphics - GIF or JPEGYou can enter as many times as you like.Important Info:Deadline - All Entries must be received by 21 January 2007 .Autographs are not real in the lithograph.When sending your entry please title your email as 'Banner Competition'Please include your name in your email.Send all entries to scyhodotcom@gmail.comThe winner will be announced on the 22nd January.Going by past entries we have had some brilliant designs in previous years, and we are really looking forward to seeing what you come up with this year!

Name: Music Showcase - Oasis "Acquiesce"Price: 230 PointsAvailable in: Ireland and the U.K.Dash Details: Oasis have been at the helm of the world’s music scene for over ten years and, in the first ever Oasis retrospective will draw together the years of multi platinum albums, Number One singles and, unique to Oasis, instantly familiar B sides into one 18 track double album entitled ‘Stop the Clocks’. These video's represent classic video's taken from Stop The Clocks and includes their two most recent additions; promo's for Acquiesce and The Masterplan.

Name: Oasis "The Importance Of Being Idle"Price: 230 PointsAvailable in: Ireland and the U.K.Dash Details: Oasis have been at the helm of the world’s music scene for over ten years and, in the first ever Oasis retrospective will draw together the years of multi platinum albums, Number One singles and, unique to Oasis, instantly familiar B sides into one 18 track double album entitled ‘Stop the Clocks’. These video's represent classic video's taken from Stop The Clocks and includes their two most recent additions; promo's for Acquiesce and The Masterplan.

Name: Music Showcase - Oasis "Songbird" (480p)Price: 230 PointsAvailable in: Ireland and the U.K.Dash Details: Oasis have been at the helm of the world’s music scene for over ten years and, in the first ever Oasis retrospective will draw together the years of multi platinum albums, Number One singles and, unique to Oasis, instantly familiar B sides into one 18 track double album entitled ‘Stop the Clocks’. These video's represent classic video's taken from Stop The Clocks and includes their two most recent additions; promo's for Acquiesce and The Masterplan.

Name: Music Showcase - Oasis "Live Forever"Price: 230 PointsAvailable in: Ireland and the U.K.Dash Details: Oasis have been at the helm of the world’s music scene for over ten years and, in the first ever Oasis retrospective will draw together the years of multi platinum albums, Number One singles and, unique to Oasis, instantly familiar B sides into one 18 track double album entitled ‘Stop the Clocks’. These video's represent classic video's taken from Stop The Clocks and includes their two most recent additions; promo's for Acquiesce and The Masterplan.

Name: MuMusic Showcase - Oasis "The Masterplan"Price: 230 PointsAvailable in: Ireland and the U.K.Dash Details: Oasis have been at the helm of the world’s music scene for over ten years and, in the first ever Oasis retrospective will draw together the years of multi platinum albums, Number One singles and, unique to Oasis, instantly familiar B sides into one 18 track double album entitled ‘Stop the Clocks’. These video's represent classic video's taken from Stop The Clocks and includes their two most recent additions; promo's for Acquiesce and The Masterplan.

Name: Music Showcase - Oasis "Don’t Look Back In Anger"Price: 230 PointsAvailable in: Ireland and the U.K.Dash Details: Oasis have been at the helm of the world’s music scene for over ten years and, in the first ever Oasis retrospective will draw together the years of multi platinum albums, Number One singles and, unique to Oasis, instantly familiar B sides into one 18 track double album entitled ‘Stop the Clocks’. These video's represent classic video's taken from Stop The Clocks and includes their two most recent additions; promo's for Acquiesce and The Masterplan.

12 January 2007

"All Around the World" is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by the band's lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. The song is seen by many as the stand-out track from their third album Be Here Now. Released on 12th January 1998, the track peaked at Number 1 in the UK Singles Chart; it is the longest single ever to do so.

Be Here Now has been criticised for being self-indulgent, over-produced and bloated. "All Around the World", nearly ten minutes long, embellished with string and horn pieces, and followed by its very own two minute long instrumental reprise, would appear to be the worst culprit. However, on its release the reviews were generally positive. It is in keeping with many Oasis songs, such as "Whatever", "Acquiesce", "Live Forever" and "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" in that it preaches the belief that "it's gonna be OK". It also features a backing vocal in the coda remarkably similar to the corresponding section in The Beatles' classic "Hey Jude".

The song was one of the first to be written by Noel, and there are recorded sessions of the band rehearsing it at the Boardwalk club as early as 1992. However, despite Noel's fondness for the song, it did not appear on their first two albums, Definitely Maybe and (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, as he wanted to wait until the band could afford to produce the song in the extravagant manner in which it was to eventually appear.

Keeping with the feel of the song, the video was also a lavish affair. Featuring the band in a yellow spaceship, the animated piece saw them travel through a world akin to The Beatles' Yellow Submarine film. The video was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and apparently took 24 computer animators 6 months to make.

When it was suggested that Oasis take legal action against pop band Hear'Say for their first single's uncanny similarity to "All Around the World", Noel simply laughed at the hypocrisy of such an act from a man who was famous for "borrowing" from other artists.

The harmonica pieces on the track were performed by Mark Feltham. Noel and Liam's then wives, Meg Matthews and Patsy Kensit, sang backing vocals.

Portions of the song were used as background music for AT&T's advertising campaign for "The New" AT&T in early 2006.

The BPI announced last year that Oasis will be recognised with the prestigiousOutstanding Contribution to Music at The BRIT Awards on Valentine’s Day 2007. The band are to be presented with the award at the show at London’s Earls Court on the 14th February 2007.Previous winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award include The Beatles, John Lennon, U2 and The Who. This will be the 5th BRIT Award the band have received.

Oasis have also confirmed that they will be performing live at the BRITS ceremony, which will be broadcast live for the first time.

Often cited as the most influential band of their generation, Oasis can count many contemporary bands — including Kasabian, Arctic Monkeys and more — as great fans of their music and rock’n’roll swagger.

The band was formed by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher in Manchester in 1991. The debut album Definitely Maybe (1994) plus the follow-ups (What’s The Story) Morning Glory (1995), and Be Here Now (1997) defined the 1990’s decade for many music fans.

More recent albums, Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants (2000), Heathen Chemistry (2002) and Don’t Believe The Truth (2005) saw experimental changes in mood and in line-up, but all of the band’s studio albums — as well as 8 of their singles — made UK No1. In addition, they have sold 50 million albums, earned numerous accolades, and picked up four BRIT awards to date.

Oasis’ current line up includes Gem Archer (guitar/backing vocals), Andy Bell (bass) and Zac Starkey (drums). The group released a best-of album, Stop The Clocks in November 2006, with a new studio album slated for late 2007.

8 January 2007

This week on Sound Off, Matt sits down with Noel Gallagher, lead guitarist, principal songwriter and vocalist for the British supergroup Oasis. Formed in Manchester in 1991, Oasis are one of the most successful and prominent English music groups to emerge during the 1990s with 50 million in album sales and 8 UK number-one singles. Their critical acclaim and massive, loyal fanbase still remain today, feeding off the band's melodic hooks, loud guitars and defiant sneer. Oasis' latest release is a greatest hits album entitled, Stop The Clocks.

Matt Pinfield’s candid interview approach has made him a favorite among music fans and musicians alike dating back to his days at MTV & USA up to his present day radio show on Sirius Satellite. Matt goes behind-the-scenes to get the inside scoop as he interviews the biggest music stars and legends in the industry - giving you the real stories and honest opinions from the artists who live them

5 January 2007

It's official! Oasis bad boy Liam Gallgher is finally set to tie the knot with his All Saints fiancee Nicole Appleton later this year - but Liam is reportedly fuming at his brother Noel for letting slip the secret news.

'We will get married,' Nicole has previously revealed. 'There's no pressure from out parents to, but when we go to friends' weddings I think, I want to do this. We're pretty much married anyway and I call him my husband sometimes. Having children together is a bigger commitment than getting married - but we will do it.'

Naughty Noel announced more wedding plans at a boozy bash in Manchester - and it's not the first time he's got into hot water with his brother. Last month Noel refused to allow Oasis to appear on The X Factor, which would have given sales of their greatest hits album a much-welcome boost over the festive period.

'We should have done it,' explained Liam. 'The contestants would have all been singing Oasis songs and I would have loved that. We'd have made it to number one in the album charts without a doubt, but our kid said no and that was that.'

3 January 2007

Oasis' Noel Gallagher is hoping to pull out all the stops when the band head into the studio to record their seventh studio LP later this year.

According to NME, the guitarist and chief songwriter is thinking big for the follow-up to 2005's huge-selling sixth LP, Dont Believe The Truth.

He told the weekly rock magazine: "All the tunes I've written recently have been on the kind of acoustic side, you know? But for the next record I really fancy doing a record where we just completely throw the kitchen sink at it.

"We havent done that since Be Here Now (the bands third LP). I'd like to get, like, a 100-piece orchestra and choirs and all that stuff.

"I think since Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants (the bands fourth LP) weve been trying to prove a point of just bass, drums, guitar and vocals nothing fancy. But I kind of like fancy! I'd like to make an absolutely colossal album.

And the Burnage rocker already has some songs in mind for the as-yet-untitled release.

Stop The Clocks

"'Stop The Clocks' will eventually appear, then theres another one call 'I Wanna Live In A Dream In My Record Machine'.

It's about buying records, and I said to boys in Kasabian out in Ibiza, its kind of like a Champagne Supernova thing.

Noel also confirmed that just like on the previous release, the rest of the band will also contribute.

"Andy (Bell) and Liam (Gallagher) are writing stuff now, Im not sure what Andys songs are like, but Liams are kind of very Beatle-esque".

Apparently, one of Liams tracks has caught Noels ear in particular.

"'Boy With The Blues' could be as big or small as you want it to be. It could be like a gospel track or something".

Oasis, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and the Arctic Monkeys will all feature on this year's Brit Awards album. The 40-track double CD is out on February 5, a week before the bash takes place on Valentine's day. We can't wait!